EP3368324B1 - Printhead liquid delivery and gas removal - Google Patents
Printhead liquid delivery and gas removal Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3368324B1 EP3368324B1 EP15907422.8A EP15907422A EP3368324B1 EP 3368324 B1 EP3368324 B1 EP 3368324B1 EP 15907422 A EP15907422 A EP 15907422A EP 3368324 B1 EP3368324 B1 EP 3368324B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- membrane
- liquid
- filter
- gas bubbles
- vacuum
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Links
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 title claims description 137
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 claims description 72
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 11
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 5
- 206010013642 Drooling Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 208000008630 Sialorrhea Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010943 off-gassing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004809 Teflon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920006362 TeflonĀ® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000006096 absorbing agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009825 accumulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008021 deposition Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010348 incorporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007726 management method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002572 peristaltic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920001343 polytetrafluoroethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004810 polytetrafluoroethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011555 saturated liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17563—Ink filters
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17596—Ink pumps, ink valves
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/19—Ink jet characterised by ink handling for removing air bubbles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
- B41J2/16502—Printhead constructions to prevent nozzle clogging or facilitate nozzle cleaning
Definitions
- printers and printing systems controllably eject small droplets of at least one liquid onto a print medium to form printed output.
- a liquid is ink, but in others it is another type of liquid.
- US4961082 discloses a liquid delivery and a gas removal system which includes a pump.
- Gas bubbles such as air may be present along with the liquid in the liquid flow paths of printer or printing system. Gas bubbles may arise, and/or grow in, the flow paths and conduits by diffusion in from the outside, outgassing, entry at fluid interconnects, entrance through nozzles, and/or via other mechanisms.
- These gas bubbles can degrade or prevent proper delivery of the liquid to the liquid ejection elements of printheads. This, in turn, can degrade or prevent proper ejection of the liquid from the ejection elements and/or proper deposition of the ejected liquid drops onto the print medium. Doing so can undesirably decrease the quality of the printed output. For example, where the liquid is ink, the image quality of the printed output can be degraded such that the printed output does not appear as it was intended to.
- a pump pressurizes a liquid and pushes the liquid, and gas bubbles in the liquid, through a filter.
- gas bubbles in addition to gas bubbles originated at the liquid ejection elements or at other points in the liquid flow path, are pulled via vacuum through a vent having a gas-permeable membrane.
- a liquid delivery system 100 includes a pump 110, a filter 120, and a vent 150 having a membrane 160.
- the pump 110 provides a liquid 102 at a positive pressure to the filter 120 through a conduit 115.
- the liquid 102 flows in a direction 104.
- liquid 102 includes gas bubbles 106 therein.
- the gas bubbles 106 may be of varying sizes.
- the gas bubbles are air bubbles.
- the filter 120 removes impurities from the liquid 102.
- the filter 120 divides the system 100 into an upstream portion 124 and a downstream portion 128, and thus the filter 120 has an upstream side 122 and a downstream side 126.
- the pump 110 and conduit 115 are located upstream 122 of the filter 120.
- the pump 110 generates a variable positive pressure in the conduit 115 which urges the liquid 102 and the gas bubbles 106 through the filter 120 to the downstream portion 128.
- the filter 120 is structured such that liquid is pushed through, or passes through, the filter 120 to the downstream side 126 at a first pressure.
- the pressure drop across the filter 120 scales linearly with the viscosity (Viscosity) and flow rate (VolumetricFlowRate) of the liquid 102, and inversely with the area (Area) available for liquid flow.
- the filter 120 becomes increasingly obstructed with gas bubbles 106, the area available for liquid flow decreases, and so the trans-filter pressure for a given liquid flow rate increases.
- ā p filter EmpiricalConst ā V ā i ā s ā cos ā ity VolumetricFlowRate Area .
- the downstream portion 128 has a fluidic enclosure 130 for the liquid 102 and gas bubbles 106.
- the fluidic enclosure 130 includes at least one manifold, channel, conduit, cavity, chamber, and/or the like.
- the enclosure 130 contains the liquid in free space within the enclosure 130, without the use of a liquid absorber, such as foam.
- the vent 150 is coupled to the fluidic enclosure 130 by the vent membrane 160.
- the vent membrane 160 has a wet side 162 which is in contact with the interior of the fluidic enclosure 130, and a dry side 164 which is in contact with the interior of the vent 150.
- the vent membrane 160 is gas-permeable but not liquid-permeable.
- gas bubbles 106 in the downstream portion 128 readily pass through the membrane 160 but liquid 102 does not.
- a vacuum 166 applied to the dry side 164 of the membrane 160 pulls gas bubbles 106 in the fluidic enclosure 130 collected at the membrane 160 through the membrane 160, and vents them in the direction 168.
- a printhead 170 is also fluidically coupled to the fluidic enclosure 130 of the liquid delivery system 100.
- the printhead 170 has plural liquid ejection elements which can controllably eject or emit drops 172 of the liquid through nozzles onto a print medium (not shown) disposed adjacent the printhead 170.
- additional gas bubbles 106 may enter the fluidic enclosure 130 through the printhead nozzles or via other mechanisms or at other places on the downstream side 128. These additional gas bubbles 106 can also collect at, and be pulled through, the vent membrane 160 and thus removed from the fluidic enclosure 130 via the vent 150.
- the additional gas bubbles 106 may result from outgassing which occurs when gas-saturated liquid is heated. They can also grow by diffusion, where a partial pressure gradient drives gas into the system. Gas can also enter the nozzles via a "shock" event in which a gas bubble is "gulped" into the ink delivery system.
- the system 100 is arranged such that the printhead 170 is at a lower portion of the fluidic enclosure 130, with the printhead nozzles disposed such that liquid drops are ejected substantially downward, in the direction 174 of gravity.
- the vent 150 is disposed at an upper portion or position of the fluidic enclosure 130, such that the gas bubbles 106 tend to rise due to buoyancy toward, and/or collect at, the vent membrane 160 for removal.
- the vent membrane 160 is disposed substantially horizontally, so as to maximize the surface area for contact by rising gas bubbles 106.
- the vacuum 166 can affect the pressure in the fluidic enclosure 130 when gas bubbles 106 are being drawn through the membrane 160.
- a pressure regulator such as for example pressure regulator 480 ( Fig. 4 ) can maintain a negative gage pressure (or "back pressure") with respect to atmosphere. Doing so can inhibit the liquid from "drooling" from the nozzles and/or inhibit outside air from entering the fluidic enclosure 130 and forming additional gas bubbles 106.
- the vacuum 166 is continuously applied to the dry side 164 of the membrane 160
- the vacuum 166 can be continuously applied when the system 100 is printing, when the system 100 is powered on but not printing, and/or when the system 100 is powered off.
- vent 150 is the only vent in the liquid delivery system 100. In some examples, there is no vent disposed upstream of the filter 120
- one example of the filter 120 includes pores (or capillaries) with a maximum pore size on the order of 5 to 10 microns in diameter.
- the liquid 102 is pushed through the pores by the pressure exerted in the liquid 102 by the pump 110 ( FIG. 1 ).
- the liquid 102 has access to all the surface area of the upstream side 122, and the liquid 102 is pushed through the filter 120 to the downstream side of the ink delivery system under a pressure of, in one example, two inches of water.
- gas bubbles 106 tend to accumulate on the upstream side 122 of the filter 120, as in FIG. 2B at time T2, rather than pass through the filter 120.
- the accumulation of bubbles reduces the amount of the surface area of the upstream side 122 in contact with the liquid 102.
- bubbles 106 that come into contact with each other are illustrated for clarity in FIGS. 2B-2C as individual bubbles, contacting bubbles 106 may merge into fewer, larger bubbles.
- the pressure in the upstream conduit 115 increases as the area available for liquid flow is reduced as more gas bubbles 106 block pores of the filter 120. As more gas bubbles 106 accumulate at the upstream side 122 of the filter 120, as in FIG.
- the pressure continues to rise until a point at which the viscous pressure drop across the filter 120 reaches a pressure greater than or equal to that required to drive a gas bubble 106 through the filter 120 (the "bubble pressure").
- the bubble pressure is between 40-80 inches of water.
- the bubble pressure is reached or exceeded, as in FIG. 2D at time T3, at least some of the gas bubbles 106 pass through the filter 120, reducing the pressure in the ink conduit 115. This occurs intermittently during operation, depending on the volume of gas in the system and the duty cycle of the pump 110.
- the type of pump 110 used e.g. diaphragm or peristaltic
- the type of pressure control system employed e.g.
- the pump 110 may turn off when a limiting pressure is reached, or the pump may continue to cycle and recirculate the liquid 102.
- the filter 120 is vertically positioned such that buoyancy collects the gas bubbles 106 against the filter 120, and promotes the passage of all the collected gas bubbles 106 at one time. In other examples, the filter 120 has a different orientation within the liquid delivery system.
- vent 150 has an opening 350, defined by walls 352, that is covered by the vent membrane 160.
- the wet side 162 of the vent membrane 160 faces the interior of the liquid enclosure 130, while the dry side 164 of the vent membrane 160 faces the interior of the vent 150.
- the vent membrane 160 is configured to pass gas bubbles 106 but not liquid 102 from the wet side 162 to the dry side 164 when a pressure P WET on the wet side 162 is greater than a pressure P DRY on the dry side 164.
- the vent membrane 160 is further configured to block outside gas or air in the vent 150 from passing from the dry side 164 to the wet side 162 when P DRY > P WET , within an acceptable range of pressure differences across the membrane.
- the differential pressure between P DRY and P WET is maintained in a range of 8 to 80 inches of water to allow gas bubbles 106 to pass through the membrane 160 from the wet side 162 to the dry side 164. Such a differential pressure also prevents gas back-flow through the vent membrane 160 from the dry side 164 to the wet side 162.
- the membrane 160 includes a first, liquid-philic part on the wet side 162 and a second, gas-permeable liquid-phobic part on the dry side 164.
- Each part may include multiple layers, or both parts may be integrated into a single structure.
- the liquid-philic part may be very thin and in close contact with the liquid-phobic part to achieve the desired functional characteristics.
- the membrane 160 is an expanded PTFE (porous Teflon) membrane with characteristics selected based upon properties of the liquid 102 so as to be impermeable to the liquid 102. For instance, where the liquid 102 is water, which has a surface tension of 72 dyne/cm, an appropriate membrane 160 could have a water entry pressure of approximately 220 inches of water. Where the liquid 102 is an ink, which has a lower surface tension of about 30 to 40 dyne/cm, an appropriate membrane could have a water entry pressure of approximately 100 inches of water. For some liquids, the membrane 160 may have an "oleophobic" treatment to render it more liquid-phobic.
- expanded PTFE porous Teflon
- vent 150 may be heat-staked in place, attached directly to a portion of the enclosure 130, molded into an insert that can be press-fit or otherwise attached to a portion of the enclosure 130, or disposed in the system in another manner.
- the vent membrane 160 is disposed substantially horizontally. This maximizes the transfer surface area of the membrane 160 to the gas bubbles 106, which rise by buoyancy. In other examples, however, the vent membrane 160 may be disposed in other orientations. In one example, access to the vent 150 by the gas bubbles 106 is not restricted by conduits or similar features in the enclosure 130 which are so narrow as to prevent the bubble from contacting the vent membrane 160.
- a liquid delivery system 400 includes a liquid pump 410, a conduit 415, a filter 420, a vent 450 having a vent membrane 460 to which a vacuum 466 is applied.
- the liquid pump 410, conduit 415, filter 420, vent 450, vent membrane 460, and each printhead 470A-D may the same as, or similar to, the corresponding liquid pump 110, conduit 115, filter 120, vent 150, and vent membrane 160 of FIG. 1 .
- the liquid delivery system 400 delivers a liquid to one or more printheads through which drops 472 of the liquid 102 can be controllable ejected.
- the printhead may be a printbar 475 having plural printhead die 470A-D.
- the printhead die 470A-D may be arranged such that the printbar spans a printable width of a print medium (not shown) adjacent the printbar 475.
- the printbar 475 is maintained in a stationary position during a printing operation of the printable width.
- the printhead die 470A-D may be considered to be multiple individual printheads.
- Each printhead die (or printhead) 470A-D may be the same as, or similar to, the printhead 170 of FIG. 1 .
- the liquid delivery system 400 includes a supply 402 of a liquid 102.
- the liquid 102 is pressurized by the liquid pump 410 and passes through the conduit 415 into an inlet chamber 482 of a pressure regulator 480.
- the liquid pump 410 is a diaphragm pump.
- the liquid pump 410 is capable of sufficiently pressuring the liquid 102 up to the bubble pressure or greater.
- the filter 420 divides the inlet chamber 482 into an upstream portion 483 and a downstream portion 484.
- the liquid 102 and gas bubbles 106 in the upstream portion 483 are pushed through the filter 420 to the downstream portion 484 of the inlet chamber 482 as described heretofore with reference to FIGS. 2A-2D .
- the pressure regulator 480 regulates the pressure of the liquid 102 downstream of the regulator valve, in chamber 485.
- the flow of liquid 102 from the inlet chamber 482 into the output chamber 485 is controlled by a regulator valve 486.
- a bladder (or air bag) 487 expands and contracts to close and open the valve 486 through a linkage 488.
- the bladder 487 is open to the atmosphere, or connected to another suitable source of air pressure.
- a biasing spring 489 exerts a predetermined force on the bladder 487 to maintain the desired pressure in the output chamber 485, which is usually a slightly negative pressure relative to atmosphere in order to inhibit liquid drooling from the printbar 475 when no printing is being performed.
- the negative gage pressure is about 12 inches of water.
- a gas (or air) management subsystem to remove gas bubbles 106 includes the vent 450 (and vent membrane 460) and an air pump 490 operatively coupled to the vent 450.
- the air pump 490 evacuates air from the dry side of the vent membrane 460 in order to lower the pressure so as to allow the gas bubbles 106 in the liquid 102 to pass through the vent membrane 460 but block the liquid 102 from doing so.
- the vent 450 is connected to the air pump 490 through a vacuum reservoir 491 which is maintained at a desired range of lower pressures.
- the desired degree of vacuum in the vacuum reservoir 491 is set by turning on the air pump 490 and opening a solenoid valve 492 to connect ports A and C.
- the solenoid valve 492 is operated to disconnect port A from both ports B and C.
- the pressure in the vacuum reservoir 491 rises (i.e., the degree of vacuum declines).
- the vacuum in the reservoir 491 is periodically refreshed by turning on the air pump 490 and opening a solenoid valve 492 to connect ports A and C until the desired degree of vacuum is achieved.
- the vacuum refresh duty cycle can be a function of print rate, temperature, gas solubility in the liquid, reservoir size, and/or other factors.
- a vacuum pressure control valve 493 limits the degree of vacuum that can be achieved in the vacuum reservoir 491. If the vacuum increases beyond a setpoint of the vacuum pressure control valve 493, the valve opens to let in air from the atmosphere.
- the setpoint may be a gage pressure of about minus 50 inches of water.
- Make-break fluid interconnections 494, 495 enable the printbar 475 to be disconnected from vacuum reservoir 491 and/or the liquid delivery system 400. This allows the printbar 475 to be transported or serviced and then reinstalled, or a replacement printbar 475 to be installed.
- the interconnection 494 is for the liquid, while the interconnection 495 is to the vacuum reservoir 491.
- a vacuum check valve 496 between the interconnection 495 and the vent 450 maintains the vacuum in the vent 450 of the disconnected printbar 475 and prevents outside air from entering the output chamber 485 through the vent membrane 460.
- an example liquid delivery system 500 includes a printbar 504.
- the printbar 504 has an arrangement of liquid ejection elements (also called ādrop ejectorsā or ādrop generatorsā) for ejecting drops of the multiple liquids onto any position of a printable width 502 of a print medium (not shown) without moving the printbar 504 during a printing operation.
- the arrangement organizes the liquid ejection elements of the printbar 504 into sets (called āsquads" 510) of printhead die slivers 520.
- a printhead die sliver 520 (also called a "printhead sliver", or just a āsliverā) has a substantially linear array of liquid ejection elements for ejecting drops of a particular one of the liquids.
- a sliver squad 510 has plural slivers 520, each sliver 520 for ejecting drops of a different one of the liquids of the liquid delivery system 500. Within a squad 510, the plural slivers 520 are disposed in a substantially parallel arrangement.
- a number M of printhead squads 510 collectively span the printable width 502.
- the M squads 510 collectively form the printbar 504.
- the M squads 510 are maintained in a stationary position during a printing operation.
- M 2: squad A 510A and squad B 510B.
- Each squad 510A, 510B has N slivers 520.
- N 3: sliver 1 520A, sliver 2 520B, and sliver 3 520C.
- Each sliver 520A, 520B, 520C ejects or emits drops of a corresponding liquid 525A, 525B, 525C respectively.
- the liquid 525 may be different for each sliver 520.
- each liquid is an ink of a different color.
- the M squads 510 may be arranged in two staggered columns 505A, 505B such that the slivers 520 collectively span the printable width 502 for each liquid. Adjacent squads 510 may overlap in the direction of the printable width 502 such that the slivers 520 collectively can print all the liquids 525 on all the positions within the printable width.
- the liquid delivery system 500 also includes N fluidic paths 530.
- the number N of fluidic paths 530 corresponds to the number N of different liquids and/or the number N of sllvers 520 of ejection elements in the system 500.
- N 3: fluidic path 1 530A, fluidic path 2 530B, and fluidic path 3 530C.
- Each fluidic path 530A, 530B, 530C is for a corresponding one of the different liquids 525A, 525B, 525C respectively.
- Each fluidic path 530 includes a pump to provide the corresponding liquid 525 to a filter, and to push the liquid 525 and gas bubbles in the liquid 525 through the filter into an enclosure that is fluidically coupled to the corresponding arrays.
- Each fluidic path 530 also includes the sliver 520 for the corresponding liquid 525 in each of the squads 510.
- fluidic path 2 530B is for liquid 525B and includes sliver 520B of squad A 510A and sliver 520B of squad B 510B.
- Each fluidic path 530 also includes a vent 550 having a gas-permeable membrane.
- Path 530A includes vent 550A; path 530B includes vent 550B; and path 530C includes vent 550C.
- Each membrane includes a wet side and an opposing dry side.
- each vent 550 may be the vent 150 ( FIG. 1 ) or the vent 450 ( FIG. 4 ), and the membrane may be the membrane 160 ( FIG. 1 ) or the membrane 460 ( FIG. 4 ).
- a vacuum applied to the dry side of the membrane pulls gas bubbles collected at the liquid side of the membrane through the membrane.
- each fluidic path 530 may further include other elements of the liquid delivery system 100 ( FIG.
- each fluidic path 530 may further include other elements of the liquid delivery system 100 ( FIG. 1 ) and/or liquid delivery system 400 ( FIG. 4 ), such as for example the liquid pump 410; conduit 415; filter 420; regulator 480 including the inlet chamber 482, output chamber 485, valve 486, bladder 487 and/or other elements of the regulator 480; and/or fluid interconnections 494, 495.
- the liquid delivery system 500 also includes a vacuum reservoir 540.
- the vacuum reservoir 540 is coupled to the vents 550 of the N fluidic paths 530 in order to continuously apply a vacuum to the dry side of the membrane of each fluidic path 530.
- a single vacuum reservoir 540 couples to plural vents 550.
- a single vacuum reservoir 540 couples to all the vents 550.
- the liquid delivery system 500 also includes an air pump 590 coupled to the vacuum reservoir 540.
- the air pump 590 may be the air pump 490 ( FIG. 4 ).
- a valve arrangement 570 may include the solenoid valve 492 ( FIG. 4 ), vacuum pressure control valve 493, and/or vacuum check valve 496. While the valve arrangement 570 is illustrated in FIG. 5 as disposed between the air pump and the reservoir, in other examples some of all of the valve arrangement 570 may be disposed elsewhere in the liquid delivery system 500.
- a method 600 begins at 605 by supplying a liquid including gas bubbles therein to a filter under pressure.
- the liquid is pushed through the filter to a fluidic enclosure using a first pressure.
- a first set of gas bubbles collected at the filter are pushed through the filter to the enclosure using a higher second pressure (the bubble pressure).
- the first set of gas bubbles originate from upstream of the filter.
- the liquid pressure in the enclosure is regulated within a predetermined range.
- the first gas bubbles collect at a wet side of a gas-permeable membrane of a vent disposed at a top of the enclosure.
- a second set of gas bubbles collect at the wet side of the enclosure.
- the second set of gas bubbles originate from downstream of the filter.
- a vacuum is applied to a dry side of the membrane to pull the collected first and second gas bubbles through the membrane.
- the vacuum pressure at the dry side of the vent membrane is maintained within a predetermined range after the collected first
Landscapes
- Ink Jet (AREA)
Description
- Many printers and printing systems controllably eject small droplets of at least one liquid onto a print medium to form printed output. In some cases, a liquid is ink, but in others it is another type of liquid. By delivering the liquid to the liquid ejection elements within a well-controlled pressure range over a wide range of liquid flow rates and environmental conditions, a desired level of print quality can be achieved.
-
US4961082 discloses a liquid delivery and a gas removal system which includes a pump. -
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a liquid delivery system for a printhead in accordance with an example of the present disclosure. -
FIGS. 2A through 2D are schematic representations of pushing gas bubbles in a liquid through a filter usable with the system ofFIG. 1 in accordance with an example of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of pulling a gas bubble through a vent membrane usable with the system ofFIG. 1 in accordance with an example of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a liquid delivery system for a page-wide printbar including multiple printheads in accordance with an example of the present disclosure. -
FIGS. 5A through 5B are schematic representations of a liquid delivery system for a multiple-liquid page-wide printbar including multiple printheads in accordance with an example of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 6 is a flowchart in accordance with an example of the present disclosure of a method for delivering liquid to a printhead. - Gas bubbles, such as air, may be present along with the liquid in the liquid flow paths of printer or printing system. Gas bubbles may arise, and/or grow in, the flow paths and conduits by diffusion in from the outside, outgassing, entry at fluid interconnects, entrance through nozzles, and/or via other mechanisms.
- These gas bubbles can degrade or prevent proper delivery of the liquid to the liquid ejection elements of printheads. This, in turn, can degrade or prevent proper ejection of the liquid from the ejection elements and/or proper deposition of the ejected liquid drops onto the print medium. Doing so can undesirably decrease the quality of the printed output. For example, where the liquid is ink, the image quality of the printed output can be degraded such that the printed output does not appear as it was intended to.
- In order to reduce or prevent these problems, it is desirable to remove the gas bubbles from the liquid flow paths.
- Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated an example of a liquid delivery system for a printhead which removes gas bubbles from the liquid flow paths. A pump pressurizes a liquid and pushes the liquid, and gas bubbles in the liquid, through a filter. These gas bubbles, in addition to gas bubbles originated at the liquid ejection elements or at other points in the liquid flow path, are pulled via vacuum through a vent having a gas-permeable membrane.
- Considering now a liquid delivery system for a printhead, and with further reference to
FIG. 1 , aliquid delivery system 100 includes apump 110, afilter 120, and avent 150 having amembrane 160. Thepump 110 provides aliquid 102 at a positive pressure to thefilter 120 through aconduit 115. Theliquid 102 flows in adirection 104. In some examples,liquid 102 includesgas bubbles 106 therein. Thegas bubbles 106 may be of varying sizes. In some examples, the gas bubbles are air bubbles. Thefilter 120 removes impurities from theliquid 102. Thefilter 120 divides thesystem 100 into anupstream portion 124 and adownstream portion 128, and thus thefilter 120 has anupstream side 122 and adownstream side 126. Thepump 110 andconduit 115 are located upstream 122 of thefilter 120. - The
pump 110 generates a variable positive pressure in theconduit 115 which urges theliquid 102 and thegas bubbles 106 through thefilter 120 to thedownstream portion 128. Thefilter 120 is structured such that liquid is pushed through, or passes through, thefilter 120 to thedownstream side 126 at a first pressure. The pressure drop across the filter 120 (ĪPfilter) scales linearly with the viscosity (Viscosity) and flow rate (VolumetricFlowRate) of theliquid 102, and inversely with the area (Area) available for liquid flow. As thefilter 120 becomes increasingly obstructed withgas bubbles 106, the area available for liquid flow decreases, and so the trans-filter pressure for a given liquid flow rate increases. The pressure-flow relationship may be expressed as:FIGS. 2A-2D ,gas bubbles 106 are pushed through, or pass through, thefilter 120 to thedownstream side 126 at a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure. This second pressure, known as the bubble pressure (Pbub), is generally proportional to the surface tension (SurfTens) of theliquid 102, and inversely proportional to the largest pore size (Rpore) in the filter 120: - The
downstream portion 128 has afluidic enclosure 130 for theliquid 102 andgas bubbles 106. In some examples, thefluidic enclosure 130 includes at least one manifold, channel, conduit, cavity, chamber, and/or the like. In examples, theenclosure 130 contains the liquid in free space within theenclosure 130, without the use of a liquid absorber, such as foam. Thevent 150 is coupled to thefluidic enclosure 130 by thevent membrane 160. Thevent membrane 160 has awet side 162 which is in contact with the interior of thefluidic enclosure 130, and adry side 164 which is in contact with the interior of thevent 150. Within a predetermined range of pressures in thefluidic enclosure 130, and for predetermined types of liquids, thevent membrane 160 is gas-permeable but not liquid-permeable. As a result, and as is discussed subsequently with reference toFIG. 3 , under proper differential pressureconditions gas bubbles 106 in thedownstream portion 128 readily pass through themembrane 160 butliquid 102 does not. Avacuum 166 applied to thedry side 164 of themembrane 160pulls gas bubbles 106 in thefluidic enclosure 130 collected at themembrane 160 through themembrane 160, and vents them in thedirection 168. - A
printhead 170 is also fluidically coupled to thefluidic enclosure 130 of theliquid delivery system 100. Theprinthead 170 has plural liquid ejection elements which can controllably eject or emitdrops 172 of the liquid through nozzles onto a print medium (not shown) disposed adjacent theprinthead 170. In some cases,additional gas bubbles 106 may enter thefluidic enclosure 130 through the printhead nozzles or via other mechanisms or at other places on thedownstream side 128. Theseadditional gas bubbles 106 can also collect at, and be pulled through, thevent membrane 160 and thus removed from thefluidic enclosure 130 via thevent 150. Theadditional gas bubbles 106 may result from outgassing which occurs when gas-saturated liquid is heated. They can also grow by diffusion, where a partial pressure gradient drives gas into the system. Gas can also enter the nozzles via a "shock" event in which a gas bubble is "gulped" into the ink delivery system. - In some examples, the
system 100 is arranged such that theprinthead 170 is at a lower portion of thefluidic enclosure 130, with the printhead nozzles disposed such that liquid drops are ejected substantially downward, in thedirection 174 of gravity. In some examples, thevent 150 is disposed at an upper portion or position of thefluidic enclosure 130, such that thegas bubbles 106 tend to rise due to buoyancy toward, and/or collect at, thevent membrane 160 for removal. In some examples, thevent membrane 160 is disposed substantially horizontally, so as to maximize the surface area for contact by risinggas bubbles 106. - In some examples, the
vacuum 166 can affect the pressure in thefluidic enclosure 130 whengas bubbles 106 are being drawn through themembrane 160. Once thegas bubbles 106 have been drawn through themembrane 160, a pressure regulator, such as for example pressure regulator 480 (Fig. 4 ), can maintain a negative gage pressure (or "back pressure") with respect to atmosphere. Doing so can inhibit the liquid from "drooling" from the nozzles and/or inhibit outside air from entering thefluidic enclosure 130 and formingadditional gas bubbles 106. - In some examples, the
vacuum 166 is continuously applied to thedry side 164 of themembrane 160 Thevacuum 166 can be continuously applied when thesystem 100 is printing, when thesystem 100 is powered on but not printing, and/or when thesystem 100 is powered off. - In some examples, the
vent 150 is the only vent in theliquid delivery system 100. In some examples, there is no vent disposed upstream of thefilter 120 - Considering now in further detail a filter of a fluid delivery system, and with further reference to
FIGS. 2A through 2D , one example of thefilter 120 includes pores (or capillaries) with a maximum pore size on the order of 5 to 10 microns in diameter. The liquid 102 is pushed through the pores by the pressure exerted in the liquid 102 by the pump 110 (FIG. 1 ). In the absence of gas bubbles 106 at theupstream side 122 of thefilter 120, as inFIG. 2A at time T1, the liquid 102 has access to all the surface area of theupstream side 122, and the liquid 102 is pushed through thefilter 120 to the downstream side of the ink delivery system under a pressure of, in one example, two inches of water. However, gas bubbles 106 tend to accumulate on theupstream side 122 of thefilter 120, as inFIG. 2B at time T2, rather than pass through thefilter 120. The accumulation of bubbles reduces the amount of the surface area of theupstream side 122 in contact with the liquid 102. Althoughbubbles 106 that come into contact with each other are illustrated for clarity inFIGS. 2B-2C as individual bubbles, contactingbubbles 106 may merge into fewer, larger bubbles. Due to the operation of thepump 110, the pressure in theupstream conduit 115 increases as the area available for liquid flow is reduced as more gas bubbles 106 block pores of thefilter 120. As more gas bubbles 106 accumulate at theupstream side 122 of thefilter 120, as inFIG. 2C at time T3, the pressure continues to rise until a point at which the viscous pressure drop across thefilter 120 reaches a pressure greater than or equal to that required to drive agas bubble 106 through the filter 120 (the "bubble pressure"). In one example, the bubble pressure is between 40-80 inches of water. When the bubble pressure is reached or exceeded, as inFIG. 2D at time T3, at least some of the gas bubbles 106 pass through thefilter 120, reducing the pressure in theink conduit 115. This occurs intermittently during operation, depending on the volume of gas in the system and the duty cycle of thepump 110. Depending on the type ofpump 110 used (e.g. diaphragm or peristaltic) and the type of pressure control system employed (e.g. pressure limit valves or active control with sensors), thepump 110 may turn off when a limiting pressure is reached, or the pump may continue to cycle and recirculate the liquid 102. In some examples, thefilter 120 is vertically positioned such that buoyancy collects the gas bubbles 106 against thefilter 120, and promotes the passage of all the collectedgas bubbles 106 at one time. In other examples, thefilter 120 has a different orientation within the liquid delivery system. - Considering now in further detail a vent of a fluid delivery system, and with further reference to
FIG. 3 , one example of thevent 150 has anopening 350, defined bywalls 352, that is covered by thevent membrane 160. Thewet side 162 of thevent membrane 160 faces the interior of theliquid enclosure 130, while thedry side 164 of thevent membrane 160 faces the interior of thevent 150. Thevent membrane 160 is configured to pass gas bubbles 106 but not liquid 102 from thewet side 162 to thedry side 164 when a pressure PWET on thewet side 162 is greater than a pressure PDRY on thedry side 164. In some examples, thevent membrane 160 is further configured to block outside gas or air in thevent 150 from passing from thedry side 164 to thewet side 162 when PDRY > PWET, within an acceptable range of pressure differences across the membrane. In one example, the differential pressure between PDRY and PWET is maintained in a range of 8 to 80 inches of water to allowgas bubbles 106 to pass through themembrane 160 from thewet side 162 to thedry side 164. Such a differential pressure also prevents gas back-flow through thevent membrane 160 from thedry side 164 to thewet side 162. - In one example, the
membrane 160 includes a first, liquid-philic part on thewet side 162 and a second, gas-permeable liquid-phobic part on thedry side 164. Each part may include multiple layers, or both parts may be integrated into a single structure. In some examples of a two-part construction, the liquid-philic part may be very thin and in close contact with the liquid-phobic part to achieve the desired functional characteristics. - In another example, the
membrane 160 is an expanded PTFE (porous Teflon) membrane with characteristics selected based upon properties of the liquid 102 so as to be impermeable to the liquid 102. For instance, where the liquid 102 is water, which has a surface tension of 72 dyne/cm, anappropriate membrane 160 could have a water entry pressure of approximately 220 inches of water. Where the liquid 102 is an ink, which has a lower surface tension of about 30 to 40 dyne/cm, an appropriate membrane could have a water entry pressure of approximately 100 inches of water. For some liquids, themembrane 160 may have an "oleophobic" treatment to render it more liquid-phobic. - In various examples the
vent 150 may be heat-staked in place, attached directly to a portion of theenclosure 130, molded into an insert that can be press-fit or otherwise attached to a portion of theenclosure 130, or disposed in the system in another manner. - In one example, the
vent membrane 160 is disposed substantially horizontally. This maximizes the transfer surface area of themembrane 160 to the gas bubbles 106, which rise by buoyancy. In other examples, however, thevent membrane 160 may be disposed in other orientations. In one example, access to thevent 150 by the gas bubbles 106 is not restricted by conduits or similar features in theenclosure 130 which are so narrow as to prevent the bubble from contacting thevent membrane 160. - Considering now another liquid delivery system, and with reference to
FIG. 4 , aliquid delivery system 400 includes aliquid pump 410, aconduit 415, afilter 420, avent 450 having avent membrane 460 to which avacuum 466 is applied. Theliquid pump 410,conduit 415,filter 420, vent 450,vent membrane 460, and eachprinthead 470A-D may the same as, or similar to, the correspondingliquid pump 110,conduit 115,filter 120, vent 150, and ventmembrane 160 ofFIG. 1 . Theliquid delivery system 400 delivers a liquid to one or more printheads through which drops 472 of the liquid 102 can be controllable ejected. In one example, the printhead may be a printbar 475 having plural printhead die 470A-D. The printhead die 470A-D may be arranged such that the printbar spans a printable width of a print medium (not shown) adjacent the printbar 475. In some examples, the printbar 475 is maintained in a stationary position during a printing operation of the printable width. Alternatively, the printhead die 470A-D may be considered to be multiple individual printheads. Each printhead die (or printhead) 470A-D may be the same as, or similar to, theprinthead 170 ofFIG. 1 . - The
liquid delivery system 400 includes asupply 402 of a liquid 102. The liquid 102 is pressurized by theliquid pump 410 and passes through theconduit 415 into aninlet chamber 482 of apressure regulator 480. In one example, theliquid pump 410 is a diaphragm pump. Theliquid pump 410 is capable of sufficiently pressuring the liquid 102 up to the bubble pressure or greater. Thefilter 420 divides theinlet chamber 482 into anupstream portion 483 and adownstream portion 484. The liquid 102 andgas bubbles 106 in theupstream portion 483 are pushed through thefilter 420 to thedownstream portion 484 of theinlet chamber 482 as described heretofore with reference toFIGS. 2A-2D . - The
pressure regulator 480 regulates the pressure of the liquid 102 downstream of the regulator valve, inchamber 485. The flow of liquid 102 from theinlet chamber 482 into theoutput chamber 485 is controlled by aregulator valve 486. A bladder (or air bag) 487 expands and contracts to close and open thevalve 486 through alinkage 488. Thebladder 487 is open to the atmosphere, or connected to another suitable source of air pressure. A biasingspring 489 exerts a predetermined force on thebladder 487 to maintain the desired pressure in theoutput chamber 485, which is usually a slightly negative pressure relative to atmosphere in order to inhibit liquid drooling from the printbar 475 when no printing is being performed. In one example, the negative gage pressure is about 12 inches of water. - A gas (or air) management subsystem to remove
gas bubbles 106 includes the vent 450 (and vent membrane 460) and anair pump 490 operatively coupled to thevent 450. Theair pump 490 evacuates air from the dry side of thevent membrane 460 in order to lower the pressure so as to allow the gas bubbles 106 in the liquid 102 to pass through thevent membrane 460 but block the liquid 102 from doing so. - The
vent 450 is connected to theair pump 490 through avacuum reservoir 491 which is maintained at a desired range of lower pressures. the desired degree of vacuum in thevacuum reservoir 491 is set by turning on theair pump 490 and opening asolenoid valve 492 to connect ports A and C. When the desired degree of vacuum is achieved, thesolenoid valve 492 is operated to disconnect port A from both ports B and C. As gas bubbles 106 move through thevent 450, the pressure in thevacuum reservoir 491 rises (i.e., the degree of vacuum declines). To compensate, the vacuum in thereservoir 491 is periodically refreshed by turning on theair pump 490 and opening asolenoid valve 492 to connect ports A and C until the desired degree of vacuum is achieved. The vacuum refresh duty cycle can be a function of print rate, temperature, gas solubility in the liquid, reservoir size, and/or other factors. - A vacuum
pressure control valve 493 limits the degree of vacuum that can be achieved in thevacuum reservoir 491. If the vacuum increases beyond a setpoint of the vacuumpressure control valve 493, the valve opens to let in air from the atmosphere. In one example, the setpoint may be a gage pressure of about minus 50 inches of water. - Make-
break fluid interconnections vacuum reservoir 491 and/or theliquid delivery system 400. This allows the printbar 475 to be transported or serviced and then reinstalled, or a replacement printbar 475 to be installed. Theinterconnection 494 is for the liquid, while theinterconnection 495 is to thevacuum reservoir 491. Avacuum check valve 496 between theinterconnection 495 and thevent 450 maintains the vacuum in thevent 450 of the disconnected printbar 475 and prevents outside air from entering theoutput chamber 485 through thevent membrane 460. - Considering now a liquid delivery system for a multiple-liquid page-wide printbar, and with reference to
FIGS. 5A-5B , an exampleliquid delivery system 500 includes aprintbar 504. Theprintbar 504 has an arrangement of liquid ejection elements (also called "drop ejectors" or "drop generators") for ejecting drops of the multiple liquids onto any position of aprintable width 502 of a print medium (not shown) without moving theprintbar 504 during a printing operation. The arrangement organizes the liquid ejection elements of theprintbar 504 into sets (called "squads" 510) of printhead die slivers 520. A printhead die sliver 520 (also called a "printhead sliver", or just a "sliver") has a substantially linear array of liquid ejection elements for ejecting drops of a particular one of the liquids. A sliver squad 510 has plural slivers 520, each sliver 520 for ejecting drops of a different one of the liquids of theliquid delivery system 500. Within a squad 510, the plural slivers 520 are disposed in a substantially parallel arrangement. A number M of printhead squads 510 collectively span theprintable width 502. The M squads 510 collectively form theprintbar 504. The M squads 510 are maintained in a stationary position during a printing operation. In theexample system 500, M = 2: squad A 510A andsquad B 510B. Eachsquad example system 500, N = 3:sliver 1 520A,sliver 2 520B, andsliver 3 520C. Eachsliver corresponding liquid - The M squads 510 may be arranged in two
staggered columns printable width 502 for each liquid. Adjacent squads 510 may overlap in the direction of theprintable width 502 such that the slivers 520 collectively can print all theliquids 525 on all the positions within the printable width. - The
liquid delivery system 500 also includes N fluidic paths 530. The number N of fluidic paths 530 corresponds to the number N of different liquids and/or the number N of sllvers 520 of ejection elements in thesystem 500. In theexample system 500, N = 3:fluidic path 1 530A,fluidic path 2 530B, andfluidic path 3 530C. Eachfluidic path different liquids - Each fluidic path 530 includes a pump to provide the
corresponding liquid 525 to a filter, and to push the liquid 525 and gas bubbles in the liquid 525 through the filter into an enclosure that is fluidically coupled to the corresponding arrays. Each fluidic path 530 also includes the sliver 520 for thecorresponding liquid 525 in each of the squads 510. For example,fluidic path 2 530B is for liquid 525B and includessliver 520B ofsquad A 510A andsliver 520B ofsquad B 510B. - Each fluidic path 530 also includes a vent 550 having a gas-permeable membrane.
Path 530A includesvent 550A;path 530B includesvent 550B; andpath 530C includesvent 550C. Each membrane includes a wet side and an opposing dry side. In various examples, each vent 550 may be the vent 150 (FIG. 1 ) or the vent 450 (FIG. 4 ), and the membrane may be the membrane 160 (FIG. 1 ) or the membrane 460 (FIG. 4 ). A vacuum applied to the dry side of the membrane pulls gas bubbles collected at the liquid side of the membrane through the membrane. In some examples, each fluidic path 530 may further include other elements of the liquid delivery system 100 (FIG. 1 ), such as for example thepump 110,conduit 115,filter 120, andenclosure 130. In some examples, each fluidic path 530 may further include other elements of the liquid delivery system 100 (FIG. 1 ) and/or liquid delivery system 400 (FIG. 4 ), such as for example theliquid pump 410;conduit 415;filter 420;regulator 480 including theinlet chamber 482,output chamber 485,valve 486,bladder 487 and/or other elements of theregulator 480; and/orfluid interconnections - The
liquid delivery system 500 also includes avacuum reservoir 540. Thevacuum reservoir 540 is coupled to the vents 550 of the N fluidic paths 530 in order to continuously apply a vacuum to the dry side of the membrane of each fluidic path 530. In some examples, asingle vacuum reservoir 540 couples to plural vents 550. In some examples, asingle vacuum reservoir 540 couples to all the vents 550. - The
liquid delivery system 500 also includes anair pump 590 coupled to thevacuum reservoir 540. Theair pump 590 may be the air pump 490 (FIG. 4 ). Avalve arrangement 570 may include the solenoid valve 492 (FIG. 4 ), vacuumpressure control valve 493, and/orvacuum check valve 496. While thevalve arrangement 570 is illustrated inFIG. 5 as disposed between the air pump and the reservoir, in other examples some of all of thevalve arrangement 570 may be disposed elsewhere in theliquid delivery system 500. - Considering now in further detail a method for delivering liquid to a printhead, and with reference to
FIG. 6 , amethod 600 begins at 605 by supplying a liquid including gas bubbles therein to a filter under pressure. At 610, the liquid is pushed through the filter to a fluidic enclosure using a first pressure. At 615, a first set of gas bubbles collected at the filter are pushed through the filter to the enclosure using a higher second pressure (the bubble pressure). The first set of gas bubbles originate from upstream of the filter. At 620, the liquid pressure in the enclosure is regulated within a predetermined range. At 625, the first gas bubbles collect at a wet side of a gas-permeable membrane of a vent disposed at a top of the enclosure. At 630, a second set of gas bubbles collect at the wet side of the enclosure. The second set of gas bubbles originate from downstream of the filter. At 635, a vacuum is applied to a dry side of the membrane to pull the collected first and second gas bubbles through the membrane. At 640, the vacuum pressure at the dry side of the vent membrane is maintained within a predetermined range after the collected first - From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the systems and methods provided by the present disclosure represent a significant advance in the art. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims.
- Where the claims recite "a" or "a first" element of the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of at least one such element, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Where the claims recite "having", the term should be understood to mean "comprising".
Claims (11)
- A liquid delivery and gas removal system for a printhead, comprising:a pump (110) to provide a pressurized liquid (102);a filter (120) fluidically coupled to the pump (110) toreceive the pressurized liquid (102) at an upstream side (122) of the filter (120),at a first pressure push the liquid (102) through the filter (120) to a downstream side (126) of the filter (120), andat a higher second pressure push gas bubbles (106) in the liquid (102) through the filter (120) to the downstream side (126); anda vent (150) having an opening that is covered by a gas-permeable membrane (160), a wet side (162) of the membrane (160) being fluidically coupled to the downstream side (126) of the filter (120) and to a printhead (170), and a vacuum (166) applied to a dry side (164) of the membrane (160) to pull gas bubbles (106) through the membrane (160).
- The system of claim 1, wherein the vacuum (166) is continuously applied to the dry side (164) of the membrane (160).
- The system of claim 1, wherein the vent (150) is positioned at an upper position on the downstream side (126) such that the gas bubbles (106) pushed through the filter (120) and gas bubbles (106) from the printhead (170) collect at the wet side (162) of the membrane (160) and pass through the membrane (160).
- The system of claim 1, wherein the downstream side (126) of the filter (120) and the printhead (170) are fluidically coupled to a fluidic enclosure (130), the liquid delivery system further comprising:
a regulator (480) fluidically coupled to the fluidic enclosure (130) to regulate a pressure in the enclosure (130). - The system of claim 1, wherein the downstream side (126) of the filter (120) and the printhead (170) are fluidically coupled to a fluidic enclosure (130), and wherein the vent membrane (160) is disposed in a substantially horizontal position at an upper portion of the enclosure (130) such that the gas bubbles (106) on the downstream side (126) collect at the wet side (162) of the membrane (160).
- The system of claim 1, comprising:a vacuum reservoir (491) coupled to the vent (450); anda vacuum check valve (496) coupled between the vacuum reservoir (491) and the vent (450) to maintain the vacuum applied to the dry side of the membrane (460) when the vacuum reservoir (491) is disconnected.
- The system of claim 1, comprising:a vacuum reservoir (491) coupled to the vent (450);an air pump (490) coupled to the vacuum reservoir (491); anda vacuum pressure control valve (493) coupled to the air pump (490) and the vacuum reservoir (491) to limit the vacuum pressure at the dry side of the membrane (460).
- The system of claim 7, comprising:
a solenoid valve (492) coupled between the air pump (490) and the vacuum reservoir (491), the valve (492) being configured to be opened periodically to connect the air pump (490) to the vacuum reservoir (491) to maintain the vacuum applied to the dry side of the membrane (460) after the gas bubbles (106) pass through the membrane (460) into the vacuum reservoir (491). - A method for delivering liquid to a printhead, comprising:supplying a liquid (102) including gas bubbles (106) therein to a filter (120) under pressure;pushing the liquid (102) through the filter (120) to a fluidic enclosure (130) using a first pressure;pushing first gas bubbles collected at the filter (120) through the filter (120) to the enclosure (130) using a higher second pressure;collecting the first gas bubbles at a wet side (162) of a gas-permeable membrane (160) of a vent (150) disposed at a top of the enclosure (130);collecting at the wet side (162) second gas bubbles of the enclosure (130); andapplying a vacuum (166) to a dry side (164) of the membrane (160) to remove gas by pulling the collected first and second gas bubbles through the membrane (160).
- The method of claim 9, wherein the second gas bubbles enter the enclosure (130) from liquid ejection elements fluidically coupled to a manifold.
- The method of claim 10, comprising:
maintaining the vacuum pressure at the dry side (164) of the vent membrane (160) within a predetermined range after the collected first and second gas bubbles are pulled through the membrane (160).
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PCT/US2015/057585 WO2017074314A1 (en) | 2015-10-27 | 2015-10-27 | Printhead liquid delivery and gas removal |
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EP3368324A4 EP3368324A4 (en) | 2019-06-19 |
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JP6808324B2 (en) * | 2016-01-08 | 2021-01-06 | ćć¤ćć³ę Ŗå¼ä¼ē¤¾ | Liquid discharge recorder and liquid discharge head |
-
2015
- 2015-10-27 EP EP15907422.8A patent/EP3368324B1/en active Active
- 2015-10-27 WO PCT/US2015/057585 patent/WO2017074314A1/en unknown
- 2015-10-27 US US15/748,714 patent/US10850530B2/en active Active
- 2015-10-27 CN CN201580080816.2A patent/CN108136783B/en active Active
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP3368324A4 (en) | 2019-06-19 |
CN108136783B (en) | 2020-03-03 |
EP3368324A1 (en) | 2018-09-05 |
CN108136783A (en) | 2018-06-08 |
US10850530B2 (en) | 2020-12-01 |
WO2017074314A1 (en) | 2017-05-04 |
US20200079101A1 (en) | 2020-03-12 |
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